Mercedes Teases Electric EQC Crossover Once More

Mercedes is revealing the first vehicle from its EQ electric sub-brand, an all-wheel drive electric crossover called the EQC, on September 4. Earlier this week, the automaker teased the vehicle's rear end and headlights, but now we get an even better look at the front end as the video tease continues.

Unlike the prototype revealed two years ago, the production model will have a traditional-looking grille. That change dramatically tones down the show car's futuristic look, but a few elements did survive the concept stage, including curved LED daytime running lights that connect with an LED strip above the grille. Though not quite the vivid blue light strip that framed the Generation EQ concept's simulated grille and headlights, the light signature retains the same general shape.

Yet another teaser that Mercedes dropped this week gave us a good idea of what the EV's interior will look like. The center stack and door panels look similar to the GLC's (the vehicle the EQC is based on) but the MBUX infotainment system with its crisp-looking dual-screen layout is new. Like we have seen in other Mercedes applications, the instrument panel and multimedia screen (likely 10.25 inches each) combine to create one large display that spans half the dashboard. The rectangular air vents appear to be unique to the EQC, not circular like in many other Mercedes models.

As we learned from our ride in a prototype, the EQC will use a battery pack rated between 70 and 75 kilowatt-hours and will have a driving range between 200 and 240 miles. The front- and rear-mounted motors will generate about 400 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The Jaguar I-Pace (on sale this fall) also uses front and rear motors but is powered by a larger 90-kilowatt-hour battery pack that generates 394 hp and 512 lb-ft and offers a driving range of about 240 miles. Both vehicles are capable of using DC fast-charging stations.

Mercedes will have more details next week, but we expect the EV to hit U.S. dealers by 2020 with a similar starting price to the I-Pace (about $70,000).